Overall very "basic" cruise experience. Nothing very bad but nothing very good either. Post Covid I've had better experience with MSC. Food and service on this trip were both just mediocre but again, not "bad". Royal has a higher capacity right now than other lines so they may just be pushing too far under the already strained conditions creating a cut-rate experience.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was very fast and smooth. From taxi to lido deck in under 30 minutes. Be sure to fill out everything you can online before the cruise, it'll make it go much faster. Don't bother paying for "The Key" - that line was longer than the regular check in line!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Food was neither good nor bad. Selection and desserts were mediocre. Buffet was crowded at lunch but not at breakfast or dinner.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Rock climbing wall was by far the highlight - so much fun! But there were no poolside games, activities or music. Alot of activities were trivia - I would have liked dance lessons or pool games or seminars or something besides tons of trivia.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The ice show is AMAZING. You need to reserve a spot on the Royal Caribbean app so do that! The stage shows in the theater were not good, unfortunately. Poor costumes, mediocre talent. Some of the live singers throughout the ship were very talented though.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Unfortunately the staff on this one were not the best. The service was fine, no one was rude or refused anything, it was just not the same. The morale is low and sometimes the service was slow. I can understand this though, considering the current situation with protocols. I don't blame the staff for being salty, but it is noticable.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Finally a ship laid out in a way that is easy to navigate!! It was very clean but was showing small signs of wear like on the upholstery of the dining/theater chairs, carpets, tiles, etc. Still a very beautiful ship though.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We had an interior "promenade view" stateroom. The size was good and there were two small couches near the window that looks out on the promenade but the desk is too big so you do have to "scoot" past the foot of the bed to get across the room
Ship tip
Definitely look for the "Peek-A-Boo" bridge just in front of the fitness center. You can look down a window into the actual bridge and it's very interesting. Deck 4 has a promenade that goes around the entire outside railing of the ship and it's covered so that's a much better place for a scenic walk than the deck 12 walking track - it's too windy up there.
We visited the San Gervasio ruins on an excursion and it was very dry/boring. I've been there once before just on my own and I prefer that so you can really see the ruins as much as you want. The shopping area is fun and excellent prices, but the store owners will heckle you, you just keep walking, it's fine, it just gets overwhelming I guess.
BEAUTIFUL island! Very well maintained. So many different little beaches with tons of seating and shade. We never had to worry about finding a seat. Bar service is super fast. Oasis lagoon pool is also nice for more party atmosphere. Ride the tram around and get off at each beach - they are all a bit different and each worth seeing!
Thank you for the review! We are going on this ship in less than 2 weeks and I was wondering what to expect now,so definitely helps. Glad you enjoyed your vacation!
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